Bed Support Mechanism for a Bed Lift

ABSTRACT

A bed lift includes a bed support mechanism used to hold a bed in a raised position. The bed support mechanism includes a catch mechanism and a release mechanism. The release mechanism is configured to move the catch mechanism between an engaged position where the catch mechanism holds the bed in the raised position and a disengaged position where the catch mechanism does not hold the bed in the raised position.

BACKGROUND

Toy hauler recreational vehicles can include double bunk bed liftsystems positioned in the cargo area to provide additional sleepingand/or seating space. In many of these systems, the upper bunk can beheld in the raised position and the lower bunk can be loweredseparately. This may be desirable in a variety of situations such asthose where the lower bunk converts into a seating unit. Holding theupper bunk in the raised position provides additional clearance forusers sitting on the lower bunk.

The conventional method of holding the upper bunk in the raised positionis with pins extending through holes in corresponding C-channels thatare part of the bed lift and are attached to the wall of the toy hauler.An example of this configuration is shown in FIGS. 106-108 of U.S. Pat.No. 8,336,940. The process of pinning the upper bed in the raisedposition includes raising both the lower bed and the upper bed to theraised position and inserting the pins through the holes in theC-channel. The pins hold the upper bed in place and allow the lower bedto be lowered separately.

Although the pins provide a functional and useful way to hold the upperbed in the raised position, the user must insert the pins into theC-channels while the lower bed is positioned against the underside ofthe upper bed. This can be difficult depending on the configuration ofthe interior of the toy hauler and/or relative position of the beds tothe C-channels. For example, the C-channels can be positioned closer tothe center of the beds making it difficult for the user to insert thepins. It would be desirable to have an easier way to hold and releasethe upper bed.

SUMMARY

A bed lift is described having an improved bed support mechanism forholding a bed in a given position. The bed lift can be used to lift one,two, or more beds in a variety of applications. The bed supportmechanism can be used to support the one or more beds in any position.In one implementation, the bed lift is configured to lift at least twobeds between a lowered and a raised position, and the bed supportmechanism is used to selectively support the upper bed in the raisedposition.

The bed support mechanism includes a catch mechanism and a releasemechanism. The catch mechanism selectively holds the bed in the desiredposition or releases the bed from the desired position. The user canadjust the release mechanism so that the catch mechanism selectivelyholds or releases the upper bed.

The bed lift can be implemented in various ways to realize one or moreof the following potential advantages. One advantage is that the releasemechanism can be positioned in a location that is readily accessible tothe user such as on a lower bed assembly. This makes it easier toselectively hold or release the upper bed compared to removing andinserting the pins in the conventional bed lift mechanism. Anotheradvantage is that the bed support mechanism is a modular component thatcan be added to the bed lift 12 after it is manufactured. For example, auser can buy the bed support mechanism and add it to the bed lift 12 atany time. Another advantage is that the release mechanism can be set toa given position and the upper bed will either be held or released.

One innovative aspect of the bed lift can be implemented by coupling thecatch mechanism to a guide rail. The catch mechanism can include abiasing component that biases the catch mechanism towards a positionwhere it holds the upper bed in the raised position. The catch mechanismcan hold the upper bed by engaging the underside of a carriage memberused to guide vertical movement of the upper bed.

Another innovative aspect of the bed lift can be implemented by couplingthe release mechanism to a carriage assembly used to lower and raise thelower bed. The user can adjust the release mechanism when the lower bedis in the lowered position and then raise the lower bed until therelease mechanism reaches the catch mechanism. The release mechanism,depending on how it is configured, can disengage the catch mechanism toallow the upper bed to be lowered or let the catch mechanism engage thecarriage member of the upper bed and hold it in the raised position.

Another innovative aspect of the bed lift can be implemented using anelectronic control system configured to move the release mechanismbetween a first position where prevents the catch mechanism from holdingthe upper bed in the raised position and a second position where it doesnot prevent the catch mechanism from holding the upper bed in the raisedposition. The electronic control system can include a switch that theuser actuates to change the state of the release mechanism as well as amotor or other actuation device configured to change the state of therelease mechanism.

It should be appreciated that the bed lift can have any suitableconfiguration and be used in any suitable application. For example, thebed lift can be any of those described in the incorporated documents.Also, the lower bed can be any of those described in the incorporateddocuments including those that convert between a seating configurationand a sleeping configuration.

The systems, methods, and devices of this disclosure each have severalinnovative aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for thedescribed desirable attributes. The summary is provided to introduce aselection of concepts in a simplified form that are further describedbelow in the detailed description. The summary and the background arenot intended to identify key concepts or essential aspects of thedisclosed subject matter, nor should they be used to constrict or limitthe scope of the claims. For example, the scope of the claims should notbe limited based on whether the recited subject matter includes any orall aspects noted in the summary and/or addresses any of the issuesnoted in the background.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The preferred and other implementations are disclosed in associationwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of one implementation ofa bed lift in a toy hauler type recreational vehicle. The bed lift is ina double bunk configuration where the lower bed and the upper bed arespaced apart in a lowered position.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the recreationalvehicle in FIG. 1 with the bed lift in a stowed configuration where thelower bed and the upper bed are raised to a position adjacent theceiling of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the recreationalvehicle in FIG. 1 with the bed lift in a single bunk configuration wherethe lower bed is in the lowered position and the upper bed is in theraised position and stowed adjacent to the ceiling.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the recreationalvehicle in FIG. 1 with the bed lift in a seating configuration where thelower bed is in the lowered position and transformed int opposite facingseating units and the upper bed is in the raised position and stowedadjacent to the ceiling.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one implementation of a lifting assemblyof the bed lift in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the top of the lifting assembly in FIG.5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one implementation of a bed supportmechanism positioned in the lifting assembly in FIG. 5. The bed supportmechanism includes a catch mechanism and a release mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the catch mechanism in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the release mechanism in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bed support mechanism in FIG. 7showing the catch mechanism holding the upper carriage member and therelease mechanism in a position where it does not prevent the catchmechanism from holding the upper carriage member.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the bed support mechanism in FIG. 10with the lower carriage member being lowered below and spaced apart fromthe upper carriage member.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the bed support mechanism in FIG. 11with the release mechanism in a position where it prevents the catchmechanism from holding the upper carriage member.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the bed support mechanism in FIG. 12showing the upper and lower carriage members being positioned next toeach other and the release mechanism pushing the catch mechanism to aposition where it prevents the catch mechanism from holding the uppercarriage member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a recreational vehicle 10 includes a bed lift 12(alternatively referred to as a bed lift mechanism or lifting system)configured to raise and lower a first bed or lower bed 40 and a secondbed or upper bed 41. The vehicle 10 is a toy hauler type recreationalvehicle and includes a front wall 14, a first side wall 16, a secondside wall 18, a rear wall 22, a ceiling 24, and a floor 26. The vehicle10 also includes a cargo area 28 configured to receive and/or transportoff-road vehicles including personal recreational vehicles such asfour-wheelers, motorcycles, snowmobiles, dune buggies, personalwatercraft, and the like.

The rear wall 22 can be used as both a door to enter the vehicle 10 andas a ramp to move an off-road vehicle into and/or out of the cargo area28. The rear wall 22 pivots on an axis between a closed position (shownin FIGS. 1-4) and an open position (not shown). In the open position,the rear wall 22 can be used as a ramp to drive or otherwise move anoff-road vehicle into and/or out of the cargo area 28. Although, theentire rear wall 22 is shown as being used as a ramp, in otherembodiments, less than all the rear wall 22 may be used as a door and/orramp.

It should be appreciated that the bed lift 12 can be included in a widevariety of structures besides the vehicle 10. The bed lift 12 can beincluded any of a number of mobile and immobile structures. Mobilestructures include, but are not limited to, structures such as landvehicles (e.g., recreational vehicles, trailers, motorized vehicles,vehicles used to travel on a road, wheeled vehicles, railroad cars,buses, semi-trucks, and the like), watercraft (e.g., ships, boats,houseboats, cruise ships, yachts, and the like), aircraft, and any othermobile vehicles. Immobile structures include, but are not limited to,structures such as a building, edifice, etc.

In some implementations, the bed lift 12 can be used with structuresthat are used as or include living quarters. For example, the bed lift12 can be used with any of the mobile and immobile structures previouslydescribed which can be used as living quarters. Structures which can beused as living quarters include, but are not limited to, homes, houses,residences, condominiums, abodes, dwellings, lodgings, recreationalvehicles (e.g., travel trailers, fifth wheels, truck campers, toyhaulers, snowmobile trailers, motor homes,) car haulers (e.g., vehiclesused to haul cars and/or other vehicles to races such as NASCAR races,etc.), houseboats, cruise ships, and the like. In another embodiment,any structure which is suitable for or designed principally forhabitation by people either on a permanent (e.g., a house) or atemporary (e.g., hotel) basis can be used with the bed lift 12.

The bed lift 12 includes lifting assemblies 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d(collectively “the lifting assemblies 30” and alternatively referred toas sliding assemblies or sliding mechanisms) The lifting assemblies 30a, 30 c are coupled to the first side wall 16 and the lifting assemblies30 b, 30 d are coupled to the second side wall 18. The liftingassemblies 30 are used to vertically move beds 40, 41 between a loweredposition and a raised position.

The bed lift 12 can be used to move the beds 40, 41 between thedifferent configurations shown in FIGS. 1-4. FIG. 1 shows the beds 40,41 in a double bunk configuration where the lower bed 40 and the upperbed 41 are spaced apart in the lowered position. FIG. 2 shows the beds40, 41 in a stowed configuration where the lower bed 40 and the upperbed 41 are in the raised position. FIG. 3 shows the beds 40, 41 in asingle bunk configuration where the lower bed 40 is in the loweredposition and the upper bed 41 is in the raised position and stowedadjacent to the ceiling 24. FIG. 4 shows the beds 40, 41 in a seatingconfiguration where the upper bed 41 is stowed and the lower bed 40 istransformed into opposite facing seating units, which each include aseat back and a seat base.

The lifting assemblies 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d each include a first orlower carriage assembly 50 (alternatively referred to as a lower movingassembly), a second or upper carriage assembly 51 (alternativelyreferred to as an upper moving assembly) and a guide assembly 60 asshown in FIGS. 5-6. The lower carriage assemblies 50 are coupled to thelower bed 40 and the upper carriage assemblies 51 are coupled to theupper bed 41. The carriage assemblies 50, 51 cooperate with thecorresponding guide assemblies 60 to vertically move the beds 40, 41between the configurations shown in FIGS. 1-4. The carriage assemblies50, 51 slide in the channels formed by the guide assemblies 60.Additional details about the operation and configuration of the liftingassemblies 30 can be found in the incorporated documents.

The carriage assemblies 50, 51 each include a carriage member 20, 62,respectively (the carriage members can alternatively be referred to asmoving members or sliding members). The carriage assembly 50 alsoincludes a support bracket 38 configured to be coupled to the lower bed40. The carriage assembly 51 also includes a support bracket (not shown)configured to be coupled to the upper bed 41. The guide assemblies 660each include a guide rail 61 (alternatively referred to as guidemembers), which forms a channel in which the carriage members 20, 62 canmove. The carriage assemblies 50, 51 are slidably coupled to the guiderail 61 and move between the same positions and configurations as thebeds 40, 41.

At least one of the lifting assemblies 30 (preferably all) includes abed support mechanism, which is used to selectively hold the upper bed41 in the raised position. The bed support mechanism includes a catchmechanism 80 (alternatively referred to as a catch assembly) and arelease mechanism 82 (alternatively referred to as a release device).The catch mechanism 80 is configured to catch and securely hold theupper bed 41 in a raised position. The release mechanism 82 isconfigured to selectively engage the catch mechanism 80 and release theupper bed 41.

The catch mechanism 80 includes a biasing component or biasing member 86coupled to an elongated main body 84. The main body 84 has a U-shape andthe sides are notched to form projections or catches 88. The main body84 is configured to fit inside the C-shaped channel of the guide rail 61and to be held in place by a fastener 91 such as a bolt or pin thatextends through holes in the guide rail 61 and corresponding holes 90 inthe main body 84.

It should be appreciated that the catch mechanism 80 can be coupled tothe guide rail 61 at any suitable location. It is generally preferred toposition the catch mechanism 80 near the top of the guide rail 61 tohold the upper bed 41 in the raised position. However, there may besituations where it is desirable to position the catch mechanism 80 atother locations on the guide rail 61.

The catch mechanism 80 rotates on the axis of the fastener 91 between afirst position where the catch mechanism 80 holds the upper bed 41 inthe raised position and a second position where the catch mechanism 80does not hold the upper bed 41 in the raised position. The biasingcomponent 86 biases the catch mechanism 80 to the first position.Specifically, the biasing component 86 biases the main body 84 outwardfrom the back wall of the guide rail 61 so that the projections 88engage the bottom edge of the carriage member 62.

The release mechanism 82 includes a release member 92 rotatably coupledto a base member 94. The release mechanism 82 moves between a firstposition where the release mechanism 82 prevents the catch mechanism 80from holding the upper bed 41 in the raised position and a secondposition where the release mechanism 82 does not prevent the catchmechanism 80 from holding the upper bed 41 in the raised position. Thefirst position corresponds to the release member 92 being in an engagedposition as shown in FIGS. 12-13. The second position corresponds to therelease member 92 being in a disengaged position as shown in FIGS. 7,10, and 11.

When the release mechanism 82 is in the first position, the catchmechanism 80 disengages from the upper carriage member 62 therebyallowing the upper bed 41 to move to the lowered position. When therelease mechanism 82 is in the second position, the catch mechanism 80engages the upper carriage member 62 and holds it and the upper bed 41in the raised position.

The operation of the bed support mechanism is shown in FIGS. 5-7 and10-13. FIGS. 5-7 show the beds 40, 41 in a slightly lowered positionwhere the lower bed 40 is underneath the upper bed 41. The releasemechanism 82 is in the second position where it does not prevent thecatch mechanism 80 from holding the upper bed 41 in the raised position.As described in the incorporated documents, the lower bed 40 can be partof a lower bed assembly that is configured to support the weight of theupper bed 41 as it moves between the lowered position and the raisedposition (the upper bed can also be part of an upper bed assembly).

This can be accomplished in a number of ways. In one implementation, thelower carriage member 20 can contact and support the weight of the uppercarriage member 62. In another implementation, the lower bed 40 cancontact the underside of the upper bed 41. As an aside, it should benoted that the bed assemblies can include the respective bed 40, 41 aswell as the bed support bracket and the respective moving assembly 50,51.

As the beds 40, 41 rise, the upper carriage member 62 slides over themain body 84 of the catch mechanism 80. The upper carriage member 62rides up the sloped portion 93 at the bottom of the main body 84, whichcauses the main body 84 to pivot inward on the fastener 91 until theprojections 88 reach the bottom edge of the carriage member 62. When theprojections 88 clear the bottom edge of the carriage member 62, thebiasing component 86 biases the main body 84 outward and the projections88 extend under the bottom surface of the carriage member 62 therebyholding it in a fixed position as shown in FIG. 10. The release member92 is in the disengaged position so it does not prevent the main body 84from pivoting outward and catching the bottom of the upper carriagemember 62.

With the upper bed 41 held securely in position by the catch mechanism80, the user can now lower the lower bed 40 to any position the userdesires. For example, the user can lower the lower bed 40 to theconfigurations shown in FIGS. 3-4.

The user can lower the upper bed 41 using the following procedure. Whenthe lower carriage member 20 is positioned below the upper carriagemember 62 in the manner shown in FIGS. 11-12, the use can adjust therelease mechanism 82 to the first position. The user can do this bypivoting or flipping the release member 92 a little more than 180degrees until it is in the position shown in FIGS. 12-13. In thisposition, the release member 92 will engage the main body 84 of thecatch mechanism 80 when the lower carriage member 20 is raised to aposition just underneath the upper carriage member 62 as shown in FIG.13.

As the lower carriage member 20 rises, the release member 92 rides upthe tabular ramp 97 positioned at the bottom of the main body 84 causingthe main body 84 to pivot inward so that the projections 88 no longerengage the bottom edge of the upper carriage member 62. The uppercarriage member 62 can now clear the projections 88 on the catchmechanism 80 and move downward with the lower bed 40.

It should be appreciated that the bed lift 12 can be operated in anumber of ways depending on the initial state of the system. Forexample, if both beds 40, 41 are in the lowered position and the releasemechanism 82 is in the first position, then the beds 40, 41 can beraised and lowered without the upper bed 41 being held in the raisedposition. However, if the release mechanism 82 is in the secondposition, then raising the beds 40, 41 to the raised position will causethe upper bed 41 to be held in the raised position by the catchmechanism 80. If the user wants to hold the upper bed 41 in the raisedposition and both beds 40, 41 are in the raised position but the releasemechanism 82 is in the second position, then the user can lower the beds40, 41 until the lower bed 40 separates from the upper bed 41, adjustthe release mechanism 82 to the first position, raise the beds 40, 41 tothe raised position where the catch mechanism 80 holds the upper bed 41,and then lower the lower bed 40. Numerous other methods of operating thebed lift 12 are possible.

It should also be appreciated that the bed support mechanism can haveother configurations. In one implementation, the catch mechanism 80 canbe positioned on the upper carriage assembly 51 (e.g., attached to theupper carriage member 62) and the release mechanism 82 can be coupled tothe guide rail 61. In this implementation, the user adjusts the releasemechanism 82 between the first position and the second position, asdesired, to selectively actuate the catch mechanism 80 and hold orrelease the upper bed 41.

In another implementation, the upper carriage member 62 and the releasemember 92 can be configured in a manner to allow the release member 92to rotate between the engaged position and the disengaged position whenthe carriage members 20, 62 are positioned next to each other in themanner shown in FIG. 7. For example, the release member 92 can beshortened and the back wall of the main body 84 can be brought forwardso that the release member 92 can clear the bottom edge of the uppercarriage member 62 when it moves. Alternatively, or in addition, thenotch in the bottom edge of the upper carriage member 62 can be raisedso that the release member 92 can clear it when it flips from oneposition to the other.

In another implementation, the bed lift 12 can include an electroniccontrol system configured to move the release mechanism 82 between thefirst position and the second position. The electronic control systemcan include a switch that the user can activate to move the releasemechanism 82. It can also include one or more actuators, such aselectric motor actuators, configured to move the release mechanism 82between the first position and the second position. The user can use theswitch to select the position of the release mechanism 82 and then raiseand lower the beds 40, 41 accordingly to either hold the upper bed 41 inthe raised position or release the upper bed 41 from the raisedposition.

Illustrative Implementations

The following is a description of various implementations of thedisclosed subject matter. Each implementation may include one or more ofthe various features, characteristics, or advantages of the disclosedsubject matter. The implementations are intended to illustrate a fewaspects of the disclosed subject matter and should not be considered acomprehensive or exhaustive description of all possible implementations.

P1. A vehicle comprising: a lower bed; an upper bed positioned above thelower bed, the lower bed and the upper bed being movable between alowered position where the lower bed and the upper bed are spaced apartand a raised position where the lower bed and the upper bed are stowed;a catch mechanism configured to hold the upper bed in the raisedposition; and a release mechanism movable between a first position wherethe release mechanism prevents the catch mechanism from holding theupper bed in the raised position and a second position where the releasemechanism does not prevent the catch mechanism from holding the upperbed in the raised position.

P2. The vehicle of paragraph P1 wherein the catch mechanism includes abiasing component that biases the catch mechanism towards a positionwhere the catch mechanism holds the upper bed in the raised position.

P3. The vehicle of any one of paragraphs P1-P2 wherein the catchmechanism includes a biasing component; wherein the catch mechanism ismovable between a first position where the catch mechanism holds theupper bed in the raised position and a second position where the catchmechanism does not hold the upper bed in the raised position; andwherein the biasing component biases the catch mechanism towards thefirst position.

P4. The vehicle of paragraph P3 wherein the catch mechanism rotatesbetween the first position and the second position.

P5. The vehicle of any one of paragraphs P1-P4 wherein the releasemechanism moves with the lower bed between the lowered position and theraised position.

P6. The vehicle of any one of paragraphs P1-P5 wherein the lower bed andthe upper bed are movable between a double bunk configuration where thelower bed and the upper bed are in the lowered position, a single bunkconfiguration where the lower bed is in the lowered position and theupper bed is in the raised position, and a stowed configuration wherethe lower bed and the upper bed are in the raised position.

P7. The vehicle of any one of paragraphs P1-P6 wherein the vehicle is arecreational vehicle.

P8. The vehicle of any one of paragraphs P1-P7 wherein the lower bed andthe upper bed are positioned adjacent to a ceiling of the vehicle in theraised position.

P9. A bed lift comprising: a guide rail; a first carriage assemblycoupled to the guide rail, the first carriage assembly being configuredto be coupled to a lower bed; a second carriage assembly coupled to theguide rail above the first carriage assembly, the second carriageassembly being configured to be coupled to an upper bed, the firstcarriage assembly and the second carriage assembly being movable betweena lowered position where the first carriage assembly and the secondcarriage assembly are spaced apart and a raised position where the firstcarriage assembly and the second carriage assembly are positionedadjacent each other; a catch mechanism coupled to one of the guide railor the second carriage assembly, the catch mechanism being configured tohold the second carriage assembly in the raised position; and a releasemechanism coupled to the other one of the guide rail or the secondcarriage assembly, the release mechanism being movable between a firstposition where the release mechanism prevents the catch mechanism fromholding the second carriage assembly in the raised position and a secondposition where the release mechanism does not prevent the catchmechanism from holding the second carriage assembly in the raisedposition.

P10. The bed lift of paragraph P9 wherein the catch mechanism includes abiasing component; wherein the catch mechanism is movable between afirst position where the catch mechanism holds the second carriageassembly in the raised position and a second position where the catchmechanism does not hold the second carriage assembly in the raisedposition; and wherein the biasing component biases the catch mechanismtowards the first position.

P11. The bed lift of paragraph P10 wherein the catch mechanism rotatesbetween the first position and the second position.

P12. The bed lift of any one of paragraphs P9-P11 wherein the catchmechanism rotates forward to hold the second carriage assembly in theraised position and rotates backward to allow the second carriageassembly to move from the raised position to the lowered position.

P13. The bed lift of paragraph P12 wherein the release mechanism pushesthe catch mechanism backward when the release mechanism is in the firstposition.

P14. The bed lift of any one of paragraphs P9-P13 wherein the releasemechanism rotates between the first position and the second position.

P15. The bed lift of any one of paragraphs P9-P14 wherein the firstcarriage assembly and the second carriage assembly are movable between adouble bunk configuration where the first carriage assembly and thesecond carriage assembly are in the lowered position, a single bunkconfiguration where the first carriage assembly is in the loweredposition and the second carriage assembly is in the raised position, anda stowed configuration where the first carriage assembly and the secondcarriage assembly are raised.

P16. A bed support mechanism comprising: a catch mechanism configured tobe coupled to one of a guide rail or a carriage assembly of a bed lift,the catch mechanism being configured to hold a bed in a raised position;and a release mechanism configured to be coupled to the other one of theguide rail or the carriage assembly, the release mechanism being movablebetween a first position where the release mechanism prevents the catchmechanism from holding the bed in the raised position and a secondposition where the release mechanism does not prevent the catchmechanism from holding the bed in the raised position.

P17. The bed support mechanism of paragraph P16 wherein the catchmechanism includes a biasing component; wherein the catch mechanism ismovable between a first position where the catch mechanism holds the bedin the raised position and a second position where the catch mechanismdoes not hold the bed in the raised position; and wherein the biasingcomponent biases the catch mechanism towards the first position.

P18. The bed support mechanism of any one of paragraphs P16-P17 whereinthe catch mechanism is configured to be coupled to one of the guide railor the carriage assembly of a bed lift including a lower bed and anupper bed; and wherein the catch mechanism is configured to hold theupper bed in a raised position.

P19. A method comprising: moving a lower bed and an upper bed to araised position with a bed lift, the upper bed being positioned abovethe lower bed, the bed lift including: a catch mechanism configured tohold the upper bed in the raised position; and a release mechanismmovable between a first position where the release mechanism preventsthe catch mechanism from holding the upper bed in the raised positionand a second position where the release mechanism does not prevent thecatch mechanism from holding the upper bed in the raised position; andmoving the lower bed from the raised position to a lowered position withthe release mechanism in the second position and the catch mechanismholding the upper bed in the raised position.

P20. The method of paragraph P19 comprising: moving the releasemechanism from the first position to the second position; moving thelower bed from the lowered position to the raised position; and movingthe lower bed and the upper bed from the raised position to the loweredposition.

General Terminology and Interpretative Conventions

Any methods described in the claims or specification should not beinterpreted to require the steps to be performed in a specific orderunless expressly stated otherwise. Also, the methods should beinterpreted to provide support to perform the recited steps in any orderunless expressly stated otherwise.

Certain features described in the context of separate implementationscan also be implemented in combination in a single implementation.Conversely, various features that are described in the context of asingle implementation can also be implemented in multipleimplementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover,although features may be described above as acting in certaincombinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more featuresfrom a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from thecombination, and the claimed combination may be directed to asubcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Articles such as “the,” “a,” and “an” can connote the singular orplural. Also, the word “or” when used without a preceding “either” (orother similar language indicating that “or” is unequivocally meant to beexclusive—e.g., only one of x or y, etc.) shall be interpreted to beinclusive (e.g., “x or y” means one or both x or y).

The term “and/or” shall also be interpreted to be inclusive (e.g., “xand/or y” means one or both x or y). In situations where “and/or” or“or” are used as a conjunction for a group of three or more items, thegroup should be interpreted to include one item alone, all the itemstogether, or any combination or number of the items.

The terms have, having, include, and including should be interpreted tobe synonymous with the terms comprise and comprising. The use of theseterms should also be understood as disclosing and providing support fornarrower alternative implementations where these terms are replaced by“consisting” or “consisting essentially of”

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such as thoseexpressing dimensions, physical characteristics, and the like, used inthe specification (other than the claims) are understood to be modifiedin all instances by the term “approximately.” At the very least, and notas an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents tothe claims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification orclaims which is modified by the term “approximately” should be construedin light of the number of recited significant digits and by applyingordinary rounding techniques.

All disclosed ranges are to be understood to encompass and providesupport for claims that recite any subranges or any and all individualvalues subsumed by each range. For example, a stated range of 1 to 10should be considered to include and provide support for claims thatrecite any and all subranges or individual values that are betweenand/or inclusive of the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10;that is, all subranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more andending with a maximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 5.5 to 10, 2.34 to3.56, and so forth) or any values from 1 to 10 (e.g., 3, 5.8, 9.9994,and so forth), which values can be expressed alone or as a minimum value(e.g., at least 5.8) or a maximum value (e.g., no more than 9.9994).

All disclosed numerical values are to be understood as being variablefrom 0-100% in either direction and thus provide support for claims thatrecite such values (either alone or as a minimum or a maximum—e.g., atleast <value> or no more than <value>) or any ranges or subranges thatcan be formed by such values. For example, a stated numerical value of 8should be understood to vary from 0 to 16 (100% in either direction) andprovide support for claims that recite the range itself (e.g., 0 to 16),any subrange within the range (e.g., 2 to 12.5) or any individual valuewithin that range expressed individually (e.g., 15.2), as a minimumvalue (e.g., at least 4.3), or as a maximum value (e.g., no more than12.4).

The terms recited in the claims should be given their ordinary andcustomary meaning as determined by reference to relevant entries inwidely used general dictionaries and/or relevant technical dictionaries,commonly understood meanings by those in the art, etc., with theunderstanding that the broadest meaning imparted by any one orcombination of these sources should be given to the claim terms (e.g.,two or more relevant dictionary entries should be combined to providethe broadest meaning of the combination of entries, etc.) subject onlyto the following exceptions: (a) if a term is used in a manner that ismore expansive than its ordinary and customary meaning, the term shouldbe given its ordinary and customary meaning plus the additionalexpansive meaning, or (b) if a term has been explicitly defined to havea different meaning by reciting the term followed by the phrase “as usedin this document shall mean” or similar language (e.g., “this termmeans,” “this term is defined as,” “for the purposes of this disclosurethis term shall mean,” etc.). References to specific examples, use of“i.e.,” use of the word “invention,” etc., are not meant to invokeexception (b) or otherwise restrict the scope of the recited claimterms. Other than situations where exception (b) applies, nothingcontained in this document should be considered a disclaimer ordisavowal of claim scope.

The subject matter recited in the claims is not coextensive with andshould not be interpreted to be coextensive with any implementation,feature, or combination of features described or illustrated in thisdocument. This is true even if only a single implementation of thefeature or combination of features is illustrated and described.

Joining or Fastening Terminology and Interpretative Conventions

The term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly orindirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature ormovable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members orthe two members and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two membersor the two members and any additional intermediate member being attachedto one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternativelymay be removable or releasable in nature.

The term “coupled” includes joining that is permanent in nature orreleasable and/or removable in nature. Permanent joining refers tojoining the components together in a manner that is not capable of beingreversed or returned to the original condition. Releasable joiningrefers to joining the components together in a manner that is capable ofbeing reversed or returned to the original condition.

Releasable joining can be further categorized based on the difficulty ofreleasing the components and/or whether the components are released aspart of their ordinary operation and/or use. Readily or easilyreleasable joining refers to joining that can be readily, easily, and/orpromptly released with little or no difficulty or effort. Difficult orhard to release joining refers to joining that is difficult, hard, orarduous to release and/or requires substantial effort to release. Thejoining can be released or intended to be released as part of theordinary operation and/or use of the components or only in extraordinarysituations and/or circumstances. In the latter case, the joining can beintended to remain joined for a long, indefinite period until theextraordinary circumstances arise.

It should be appreciated that the components can be joined togetherusing any type of fastening method and/or fastener. The fastening methodrefers to the way the components are joined. A fastener is generally aseparate component used in a mechanical fastening method to mechanicallyjoin the components together. A list of examples of fastening methodsand/or fasteners are given below. The list is divided according towhether the fastening method and/or fastener is generally permanent,readily released, or difficult to release.

Examples of permanent fastening methods include welding, soldering,brazing, crimping, riveting, stapling, stitching, some types of nailing,some types of adhering, and some types of cementing. Examples ofpermanent fasteners include some types of nails, some types of dowelpins, most types of rivets, most types of staples, stitches, most typesof structural ties, and toggle bolts.

Examples of readily releasable fastening methods include clamping,pinning, clipping, latching, clasping, buttoning, zipping, buckling, andtying. Examples of readily releasable fasteners include snap fasteners,retainer rings, circlips, split pin, linchpins, R-pins, clevisfasteners, cotter pins, latches, hook and loop fasteners (VELCRO), hookand eye fasteners, push pins, clips, clasps, clamps, zip ties, zippers,buttons, buckles, split pin fasteners, and/or conformat fasteners.

Examples of difficult to release fastening methods include bolting,screwing, most types of threaded fastening, and some types of nailing.Examples of difficult to release fasteners include bolts, screws, mosttypes of threaded fasteners, some types of nails, some types of dowelpins, a few types of rivets, a few types of structural ties.

It should be appreciated that the fastening methods and fasteners arecategorized above based on their most common configurations and/orapplications. The fastening methods and fasteners can fall into othercategories or multiple categories depending on their specificconfigurations and/or applications. For example, rope, string, wire,cable, chain, and the like can be permanent, readily releasable, ordifficult to release depending on the application.

Drawing Related Terminology and Interpretative Conventions

The drawings are intended to illustrate implementations that are bothdrawn to scale and/or not drawn to scale. This means the drawings can beinterpreted, for example, as showing: (a) everything drawn to scale, (b)nothing drawn to scale, or (c) one or more features drawn to scale andone or more features not drawn to scale. Accordingly, the drawings canserve to provide support to recite the sizes, proportions, and/or otherdimensions of any of the illustrated features either alone or relativeto each other. Furthermore, all such sizes, proportions, and/or otherdimensions are to be understood as being variable from 0-100% in eitherdirection and thus provide support for claims that recite such values orany and all ranges or subranges that can be formed by such values.

Spatial or directional terms, such as “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,”and the like, relate to the subject matter as it is shown in thedrawings and/or how it is commonly oriented during manufacture, use, orthe like. However, it is to be understood that the described subjectmatter may assume various alternative orientations and, accordingly,such terms are not to be considered as limiting.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The entire contents of each of the documents listed below areincorporated by reference into this document (the documents arecollectively referred to as the “incorporated documents”). If the sameterm is used in both this document and one or more of the incorporateddocuments, then it should be interpreted to have the broadest meaningimparted by any one or combination of these sources unless the term hasbeen explicitly defined to have a different meaning in this document. Ifthere is an inconsistency between any of the following documents andthis document, then this document shall govern. The incorporated subjectmatter should not be used to limit or narrow the scope of the explicitlyrecited or depicted subject matter.

Priority patent documents incorporated by reference:

-   -   U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2019/0217752 (application Ser. No.        16/247,536), titled “Bed Support Mechanism for a Bed Lift,”        filed on 14 Jan. 2019, published on 18 Jul. 2019.        -   U.S. Prov. App. No. 62/617,219, titled “Bed Support System            for a Bed Lift,” filed on 13 Jan. 2018.            Additional documents incorporated by reference:    -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,336,940 (application Ser. No. 13/270,046),        titled “Structure Including an Item That Moves Vertically,”        filed on 10 Oct. 2011, issued on 25 Dec. 2012.    -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,656,590 (application Ser. No. 14/714,215),        titled “Bed Lift Mounting Member,” filed on 15 May 2015, issued        on 23 May 2017.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bed lift comprising: a guide rail; a firstcarriage assembly coupled to the guide rail, the first carriage assemblybeing configured to be coupled to a lower bed; a second carriageassembly coupled to the guide rail above the first carriage assembly,the second carriage assembly being configured to be coupled to an upperbed, the first carriage assembly and the second carriage assembly beingmovable between a lowered position where the first carriage assembly andthe second carriage assembly are spaced apart and a raised positionwhere the first carriage assembly and the second carriage assembly arepositioned adjacent each other; a catch mechanism coupled to one of theguide rail or the second carriage assembly, the catch mechanism beingconfigured to hold the second carriage assembly in the raised position;and a release mechanism coupled to the other one of the guide rail orthe second carriage assembly, the release mechanism being movablebetween a first position where the release mechanism prevents the catchmechanism from holding the second carriage assembly in the raisedposition and a second position where the release mechanism does notprevent the catch mechanism from holding the second carriage assembly inthe raised position.
 2. The bed lift of claim 1 wherein the catchmechanism is configured to rotate between a first position where thecatch mechanism holds the second carriage assembly in the raisedposition and a second position where the catch mechanism does not holdthe second carriage assembly in the raised position.
 3. The bed lift ofclaim 1 wherein the catch mechanism includes a biasing component;wherein the catch mechanism is movable between a first position wherethe catch mechanism holds the second carriage assembly in the raisedposition and a second position where the catch mechanism does not holdthe second carriage assembly in the raised position; and wherein thebiasing component biases the catch mechanism towards the first position.4. The bed lift of claim 1 wherein the catch mechanism rotates forwardto hold the second carriage assembly in the raised position and rotatesbackward to allow the second carriage assembly to move from the raisedposition to the lowered position.
 5. The bed lift of claim 4 wherein therelease mechanism pushes the catch mechanism backward when the releasemechanism is in the first position.
 6. The bed lift of claim 1 whereinthe release mechanism rotates between the first position and the secondposition.
 7. The bed lift of claim 1 wherein the first carriage assemblyand the second carriage assembly are movable between a double bunkconfiguration where the first carriage assembly and the second carriageassembly are in the lowered position, a single bunk configuration wherethe first carriage assembly is in the lowered position and the secondcarriage assembly is in the raised position, and a stowed configurationwhere the first carriage assembly and the second carriage assembly areraised.
 8. A bed support mechanism comprising: a catch mechanismconfigured to be coupled to one of a guide rail or a carriage assemblyof a bed lift, the catch mechanism being configured to hold a bed in araised position; and a release mechanism configured to be coupled to theother one of the guide rail or the carriage assembly, the releasemechanism being movable between a first position where the releasemechanism prevents the catch mechanism from holding the bed in theraised position and a second position where the release mechanism doesnot prevent the catch mechanism from holding the bed in the raisedposition wherein the catch mechanism is configured to rotate between afirst position where the catch mechanism holds the bed in the raisedposition and a second position where the catch mechanism does not holdthe bed in the raised position.
 9. The bed support mechanism of claim 8wherein the catch mechanism includes a biasing component; wherein thecatch mechanism is movable between a first position where the catchmechanism holds the bed in the raised position and a second positionwhere the catch mechanism does not hold the bed in the raised position;and wherein the biasing component biases the catch mechanism towards thefirst position.
 10. The bed support mechanism of claim 8 wherein thecatch mechanism is configured to be coupled to one of the guide rail orthe carriage assembly of a bed lift including a lower bed and an upperbed; and wherein the catch mechanism is configured to hold the upper bedin a raised position.
 11. A method comprising: moving a lower bed and anupper bed to a raised position with a bed lift, the upper bed beingpositioned above the lower bed, the bed lift including: a catchmechanism configured to hold the upper bed in the raised position; and arelease mechanism movable between a first position where the releasemechanism prevents the catch mechanism from holding the upper bed in theraised position and a second position where the release mechanism doesnot prevent the catch mechanism from holding the upper bed in the raisedposition; and moving the lower bed from the raised position to a loweredposition with the release mechanism in the second position and the catchmechanism holding the upper bed in the raised position.
 12. The methodof claim 11 comprising: moving the release mechanism from the firstposition to the second position; moving the lower bed from the loweredposition to the raised position; and moving the lower bed and the upperbed from the raised position to the lowered position.
 13. A vehiclecomprising: a lower bed; an upper bed positioned above the lower bed,the lower bed and the upper bed being movable between a lowered positionwhere the lower bed and the upper bed are spaced apart and a raisedposition where the lower bed and the upper bed are stowed; a catchmechanism configured to hold the upper bed in the raised position; and arelease mechanism movable between a first position where the releasemechanism prevents the catch mechanism from holding the upper bed in theraised position and a second position where the release mechanism doesnot prevent the catch mechanism from holding the upper bed in the raisedposition.
 14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the catch mechanismincludes a biasing component that biases the catch mechanism towards aposition where the catch mechanism holds the upper bed in the raisedposition.
 15. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the catch mechanism isconfigured to rotate between a first position where the catch mechanismholds the upper bed in the raised position and a second position wherethe catch mechanism does not hold the upper bed in the raised position.16. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the catch mechanism includes abiasing component; wherein the catch mechanism is movable between afirst position where the catch mechanism holds the upper bed in theraised position and a second position where the catch mechanism does nothold the upper bed in the raised position; and wherein the biasingcomponent biases the catch mechanism towards the first position.
 17. Thevehicle of claim 13 wherein the release mechanism moves with the lowerbed between the lowered position and the raised position.
 18. Thevehicle of claim 13 wherein the lower bed and the upper bed are movablebetween a double bunk configuration where the lower bed and the upperbed are in the lowered position, a single bunk configuration where thelower bed is in the lowered position and the upper bed is in the raisedposition, and a stowed configuration where the lower bed and the upperbed are in the raised position.
 19. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein thevehicle is a recreational vehicle.
 20. The vehicle of claim 13 whereinthe lower bed and the upper bed are positioned adjacent to a ceiling ofthe vehicle in the raised position.